U.S. patent application number 10/901026 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for solid state electric light bulb.
Invention is credited to Currie, Robert M., Sorella, Eliot.
Application Number | 20050135098 10/901026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34682119 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050135098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Currie, Robert M. ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Solid state electric light bulb
Abstract
A solid state light bulb for attachment to a lamp socket. The
light bulb uses a number of super bright LEDs or color LEDs mounted
within a hollow housing to replace a standard bulb such as a 60
Watt bulb. A stepped, reverse conical interior wall distributes and
diffuses the light to project the appearance of a normal bulb. An
upper lens of the housing may be removable to form a spot light
effect.
Inventors: |
Currie, Robert M.;
(Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, CA) ; Sorella, Eliot;
(Laval, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Merek, Blackmon & Voorhees, LLC
673 S. Washington St.
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
34682119 |
Appl. No.: |
10/901026 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60490441 |
Jul 29, 2003 |
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60490445 |
Jul 29, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/246 ;
362/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21Y 2115/10 20160801;
F21K 9/23 20160801; H01R 33/9453 20130101; H01R 33/94 20130101;
Y10S 362/80 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/246 ;
362/247 |
International
Class: |
F21V 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket to
replace a standard bulb.
2. A solid state light bulb for mounting on a 12 Volt AC light
socket comprising: a step down transformer for converting the
voltage of the light socket; a converter for converting the AC
current to DC; a central housing for housing said transformer and
said converter; a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes mounted about
said housing; and a diffuser for diffusing light from said
plurality of Light Emitting Diodes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 60/490,445 filed Jul. 29, 2003, which is hereby
incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Application 60/490,441 filed Jul. 29, 2003,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a solid state replacement
for an electric light bulb.
[0004] B. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] At the present time conventional American electric light
bulbs utilize 115 VAC to generate sufficient electric current
through a filament mostly of tungsten to heat the filament until
light and heat are emitted. The light from the filament is
dispersed through the glass globe in all directions except through
the socket. Most economically produced bulbs of this configuration
have a finite use life. Bulbs of this type can and are made to last
longer than the more economical version but the cost cannot be born
by all consumers. A second problem with incandescent bulbs is the
temperature of the glass globe when power has been applied to the
bulb. Many fingers have been burned trying to remove such a bulb
without allowing sufficient time for the bulb to cool down. This
present instant invention solves the problem of a finite useful
life of incandescent light bulbs and the safety problem of hot
bulbs burning fingers and sometimes starting fires.
[0006] None of the prior art inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is accomplished by using new
technology and new ideas to create an inventive solid-state
electric light bulb that does not require the frequency of
replacement of even the very best and most expensive 115 VAC
filament type bulbs and at the same time increase safety because
the bulb globe does not get hot enough to burn fingers.
[0008] The present use of incandescent bulbs requires that have
burned out bulbs to be replaced on a regular basis thereby
increasing the cost of electric illumination to the consumer and
creating a burn hazard for those impatient few who do not allow
sufficient cool down time of the bulb before replacement.
[0009] The present invention utilizes five super bright solid-state
light emitting diodes, either a LumaLED 1.2 watt, 350 milli-amp,
3.5 Volt DC white light LED, or one similar thereto, inside of a
five piece optically conductive shell or globe. The solid state
LEDs can have all soldered electrical connections and electrically
will last indefinitely.
[0010] Additionally, the acrylic or plastic globe versions of these
unique solid state lighting units are not easily physically damaged
and can provide colored light where desirable. Four of the LEDs may
be mounted equally spaced around in a circle on the metal surface
of the heat shield inside the circumferential perimeter lip or
raised rim. A fifth LED is mounted in the exact center. An
electrical circuit that rectifies 115-VAC house current and reduces
the DC output voltage to that required by the electrical series
connection of the multiple LEDs is located in the base of the heat
sink beneath the metal surface upon which the LEDs are mounted.
[0011] The base of an optically conductive acrylic bulb globe fits
onto the heat sink inside of the raised rim and extends
approximately three inches to a top diameter preferably 15% smaller
than that of the base. Cutting concentric circles into the bulb
globe starting at the top hollow out the inside of the bulb globe
in a cone shape. Each succeeding cut is smaller in diameter than
the first and is connected to the first so that stepped rings form
the inside hollow cone shape. The small end of the cone shape is
located just above the center mounted LED. The stepped rings of the
open internal cone shape create reflecting surfaces within the bulb
globe to disperse and diffuse the light from the LEDs out of the
bulb globe in any and all directions.
[0012] A removable optically conductive lens cap or cover is press
fitted, or screw thread attached to cover the opening of the
acrylic bulb globe. When electrical power is applied to the LEDs of
the bulb and the lens cap or cover is removed, a bright semi-spot
light emanates from the bulb globe. This feature is helpful when
the bulb is overhead and concentrated illumination is needed below
the bulb. A circular heat sink base mount is located between the
larger diameter of the base of the heat sink and the smaller top of
the bulb socket unit. The long-life solid state LEDs also provides
the advantage of less power consumption than incandescent or
halogen light sources.
[0013] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
use new solid-state illumination technology to make a replacement
for the Edison filament electric light bulb.
[0014] It is another object of the invention to provide center and
perimeter lighting by using perimeter and central LEDs.
[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide a globe
lighting effect by providing a central globe around the light
sources.
[0016] Still another object of the invention is to provide a long
life bulb by replacing conventional lighting elements with
LEDs.
[0017] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0018] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a solid state light bulb
according to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the components of the LED
light bulb according to the present invention.
[0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(s)
[0022] The present invention is to a solid-state light bulb which
replaces a current electric light bulb. As best shown by reference
to the figures, the invention will be disclosed in further
detail.
[0023] According to the present invention, a solid state light bulb
10 includes a bulb socket 4 is connected to a heat sink base mount
3. The bulb socket 4 preferably is sized and arranged to
electrically mate with a lamp socket 20 when the bulb socket 4 is
threadedly or otherwise attached to the lamp socket. The lamp
socket 20 is preferably a "household lamp socket" which is hereby
defined as a conventional lamp socket configured to accept a
standard 60 Watt, 120 V light bulb available from Phillips or
General Electric.
[0024] The heat sink unit 2 includes an integrated AC to DC power
supply which is machined to fit snugly into heat sink base mount 3.
LEDs 6 may be soldered to DC voltage connections on the upper side
of heat sink unit 2. An optically conductive acrylic bulb globe 1
fits into base heat sink unit 2 to cover LEDs 6. A removable
optically conductive lens cover 5 is attached to bulb globe unit 1
by press fit or screw threads.
[0025] The present invention utilizes five super bright solid-state
light emitting diodes 6. The LEDs are preferably LUMALED 1.2 watt,
350 milli-amp, three and one half Volt DC white light LED, or the
like. The LEDs are mounted inside of a five-piece optically
conductive shell or globe 1. The solid state LEDs preferably
include soldered electrical connections for added longevity,
however, one skilled in the art would recognize that other means of
attaching the LEDs.
[0026] The acrylic or plastic globe versions of the solid state
lighting unit preferably include colored LEDs, either color LEDs of
a fixed color or multicolor LEDs capable of being selectively
illuminated in various colors. Alternatively black light LEDs could
be used for some or all of the LEDs. Four of the LEDs are
preferably mounted equally spaced around in a circle on the metal
surface of the heat shield inside the circumferential perimeter lip
or raised rim. One skilled in the art would recognize that more or
fewer of the LEDs could be mounted around the perimeter to raise or
lower the overall power rating of the bulb to simulate for instance
a 60W bulb, a 40W bulb, a 75W bulb, etc. These perimeter LEDs may
be multicolor LEDs which may be used to provide decorative lighting
when direct utility lighting (i.e., for reading, etc.) is not
needed. The LEDs may also be UV LEDs to provide "black lighting"
effects. However, for normal use, preferably all of the LEDs are
bright white.
[0027] A fifth LED 22 is mounted in substantially the exact center.
The LED may be multicolor, but is preferably a bright white LED. A
removable optically conductive lens cap or cover 5 is press fitted,
or screw thread attached to cover the opening of the acrylic bulb
globe. When electrical power is applied to the LEDs of the bulb and
the lens cap or cover is removed, a bright semi-spot light emanates
from the bulb globe. This feature is helpful when the bulb is
overhead and concentrated illumination is needed below the bulb. A
circular heat sink base mount is located between the larger
diameter of the base of the heat sink and the smaller top of the
bulb socket unit to dissipate heat from the first LED.
[0028] An electrical circuit that rectifies 115-VAC house current
and reduces the DC output voltage to that required by the
electrical series connection of the multiple
[0029] LEDs is located in the base of the heat sink beneath the
metal surface upon which the LEDs are mounted.
[0030] The base 12 of the optically conductive acrylic bulb globe
fits onto the heat sink 2 inside of the raised rim 14 and extends
preferably three inches to a top diameter 16 preferably 15% smaller
than that of the base. The top of the bulb is capped by lens 5 as
discussed above.
[0031] The interior of the bulb is preferably formed by cutting
concentric circles 18 into the bulb globe starting at the top
hollow on the inside of the bulb globe to form a cone shape
opposite that of the globe outer wall. Each succeeding cut is
smaller in diameter than the first and is connected to the first so
that stepped rings form the inside hollow cone shape. The small end
of the cone shape is located just above the center mounted LED 22.
The stepped rings of the open internal cone shape create reflecting
surfaces within the bulb globe to disperse and diffuse the light
from the LEDs out of the bulb globe into any and all directions to
simulate a standard bulb. The long-life solid state LEDs there
provides all of the advantages of a standard bulb, with the further
advantage of less power consumption than incandescent or halogen
light sources.
[0032] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any
and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *